Ten Excellent Tales Of Eerie Intrigue 21/02/2025

Introduction

The allure of the unknown often draws readers into dark fiction, and the Rooming House, edited by Mark Beech, delivers a compelling invitation to explore just that. Published by Egaeus Press in 2025, this anthology assembles ten interconnected stories that delve into the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of a rooming house where the walls seem to whisper secrets of the past.

Each tale, crafted by a distinguished lineup of authors, weaves its own narrative of mystery, dread, and the uncanny, creating a cohesive tapestry of fear and intrigue. As we journey through these pages, we encounter a variety of unsettling scenarios, from strange tenants to grotesque phenomena, all set within the haunting confines of a building that holds a twisted charm.

In this review, I will highlight some of the most captivating stories that stand out in this unique collection, showcasing the depth and creativity that each author brings to the table.

The Rooming House, Edited by Mark Beech

Egaeus Press 2025

Reviewed by Mario Guslandi

A bunch of dark stories taking place in a rooming house. That’s the basic idea of the present anthology published by the excellent Egaeus Press. The tales are penned by well respected authors in the area,hence -not surprisingly- most of them are truly compelling.

Although the whole book is well worth reading, I will focus on my own favorite tales.

“ Behind You!” by the always dependable Reggie Oliver is an offbeat, fascinating story taking place in a small town during a vaudeville show.

“ Defective Premises Survey” by Tyler Keevil is an unusual, captivating novella where a man assigned to survey an old rooming house has to deal with a mysterious fungus spreading all over the place. A very effective, unsettling example of “mouldy” horror…

In “The Inhabitants” by Florence Sunnen as in the previous story there’s the invasion of the house by a “growth” over a door. A good story but a comparison with Keevil’s superior story, although unfair, is unavoidable.

For those ( like me) who love Steve Duffy’s ability as a skilled storyteller “ The Gingiver Twins” is an unexpected surprise. The “tale” is actually an enticing but extremely puzzling piece where no actual plot is discernible,featuring two twins building a barrier in their room in order to separate their lives and their thoughts.

 David Yeats contributes “ Harvesting”, yet another disconcerting,odd piece of fiction with a surrealistic taste, featuring a woman fighting to support her family by means of an impossibly weird job.

Other contributors to the volume are  Mark Valentine, Timothy J Jarvis, Carly Holmrs, Lynda E Rucker and John Llewellyn Probert. 

Enjoy.

The Rooming House, Edited by Mark Beech

Nobody ever chose to take up residence at THE ROOMING HOUSE, that domicile of unfathomable architecture and nebulous intent; to hope to find content between its warped door-frames and moldering wallpapers, or comfort in the sounds of its muffled creaks and strange nocturnal music. Yet it was never short of tenants. Some would simply never leave.

This book presents ten unsettling, interconnecting stories by ten of our finest weird fiction writers, defining, in their mosaic fashion, a sort of map of a hitherto uncharted region of dark influence and malevolent forces, centred in and around this singular building.

The full table of contents is as follows:Behind You! – Reggie Oliver
Defective Premises Survey – Tyler Keevil
The Gingiver Twins – Steve Duffy
The Old Wards – Mark Valentine
The Inhabitants – Florence Sunnen
An Account Of What I Know About Forest Fires and The Afflictions of The Prophets – Timothy J. Jarvis
Finding Polly – Carly Holmes
The Researcher’s Assistant – Lynda E. Rucker
The Ninth Reel – John Llewellyn Probert
Harvesting – David Yates

Edited by Mark Beech

This hardback book comprises 230 pages with illustrations by David Yates, as well as cover and endpaper art by Roj Friberg. It is limited to just 400 copies.

ISBN 978-1-739579135.

It can be ordered now for £40.00, inclusive of postage worldwide.

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